Crucifixes In Italian Schools

The European Human Rights Court will issue a ruling March 18 on whether crucifixes should be present in the public schools of Italy.

The European court issued a ruling in November 2009 in favor of a mother who claimed the crucifixes "weren't in harmony" with the way she wanted her two daughters to be educated.

Although the crucifix could be "encouraging" for some pupils, the court said, it could be "emotionally disturbing" for pupils of other religions or those who profess no religion. The court said the state has an obligation to refrain from "imposing beliefs, even indirectly, in places where persons are dependent on it or in places where they are particularly vulnerable."

Italy then launched an appeal against the decision in June 2010, noting that the presence of crucifixes in the classroom does not amount to government-sponsored religion.